Al Gharafa’s hopes of reaching the Qatar Cup final came to a heartbreaking end after a dramatic penalty shootout defeat to Al Duhail, with Algerian midfielder Yacine Brahimi missing the decisive spot-kick.
In a tightly contested semi-final that offered little in the way of goalscoring chances over 120 minutes, both teams were left to settle their fate from the penalty spot.
Al Gharafa and Al Duhail, second and third respectively in the league standings, cancelled each other out across regular time and extra time, with the match marked more by tactical discipline than attacking flair.
Brahimi, who operated in a central playmaking role, struggled to influence the game in the final third.
Despite his creative pedigree, he remained largely subdued throughout the encounter, which saw moments of individual brilliance from Al Duhail’s Moroccan international Hakim Ziyech and Al Gharafa’s Spanish forward Joselu.
The stalemate forced a shootout, where the pressure intensified. Al Duhail converted their first four penalties with composure, setting the tone early on. Meanwhile, Al Gharafa’s Fabricio Diaz faltered with their second attempt, putting the side on the back foot.
Despite the early miss, Al Gharafa were handed a lifeline when Al Duhail’s Al Brake missed what could have been the match-winning kick.
His shot flew over the crossbar, offering Brahimi the chance to bring his team back level and keep their cup dreams alive.
But it wasn’t to be.
The Algerian international stepped up for the final penalty and saw his effort saved by Argentinian goalkeeper Bautista Burke, who guessed correctly and denied Brahimi with a confident stop.
The save sealed Al Duhail’s place in the final, sending their bench into celebration while Al Gharafa were left to rue their missed opportunities.
Al Duhail will now prepare to face Al Sadd in the final, a clash that promises to be packed with quality and intensity. Al Sadd’s squad includes Algerians Youcef Atal and Abdessamed Bounnacer, who will both be looking to end their season on a high with silverware.
For Brahimi and Al Gharafa, the exit will sting — not only because of how close they came, but also because their season now ends without a trophy.
Brahimi’s missed penalty will be a bitter pill to swallow, especially after a season in which he has often been a talisman for his side.
While the shootout defeat is a cruel way to bow out, Al Gharafa will look to regroup and turn the disappointment into motivation ahead of the next campaign.
For now, all eyes turn to the final, where Al Duhail will seek to lift the Qatar Cup against a formidable Al Sadd side.
